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Album review:
Ryan Adams tries to emulate heroes including Laura Marling in Ashes And Fire, but his cliché-ridden lyrics let him down.

A popular criticism of Ryan Adams is that he writes pastiches of whatever musician he happens to be listening to, be it Bruce Springsteen , Bob Dylan , Jackson Browne, Neil Young or Gram Parsons.

He even admits to completely rewriting this, his 13th album and his first since leaving The Cardinals, after being blown away by English folk siren Laura Marlingâs latest LP.

The album is thus dominated by sparse, drumless, acoustic-guitar-led ballads, although the best tracks hit a lazy Laurel Canyon vibe, featuring backing vocals from Norah Jones and some fantastic piano/organ work from Benmont Tench.